Rosie gave her a hasty kiss, but Lulu embraced her with warmth, saying, "I am sure I shall love you, and I hope you will love me a little in return." "I'll try; it wouldn't be fair to let it be all on one side," Evelyn answered with a shy, sweet smile, as she returned the hug and kiss as heartily as they were given.
Lulu was delighted.
After supper, while the older people were chatting busily among themselves, she drew Evelyn into a distant corner and told her how glad she was of her coming, because she wanted a girl-friend near her own age and found Rosie uncongenial and indifferent toward her.
"She will probably be the same to me," said Evelyn; "she has so many of her very own dear ones about her, you know, that it cannot be expected that she will feel much interest in strangers like you and me.

But," frankly, "I think I should love you best anyhow." "How nice in you!" said Lulu, her eyes sparkling; "but I'm afraid you won't when you know me better, for I'm not a bit good; I get into terrible passions when anybody imposes on me or my brother or sister; and I sometimes disobey and break rules." "You are very honest, at all events," remarked Evelyn pleasantly; "and perhaps I shall not like you any the less for having some faults.

You see, if you were perfect, the contrast between you and myself would be most unpleasant to me." "How correctly and like a grown-up person you speak!" said Lulu, regarding her new friend with affectionate admiration.
Evelyn's eyes filled.

"It is because papa made me his constant companion and took the greatest pains with me," she said, in tones tremulous with emotion.

"We were almost always alone together, for I never had a brother or sister to share the love he lavished upon me." "I'm so, so sorry for you!" said Lulu, slipping an arm round Evelyn's waist.